Trudeau vows to defend Canada’s ‘interests’ after Trump repeats NATO threat

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to defend Canada’s “interests” in an increasingly “complex world,” but avoided criticizing former president Donald Trump, after he repeated his threat to turn his back on NATO members — like Canada — who miss their defence spending targets.

“We’re always going to be there to work with our American partners,” Trudeau said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday.

“I’m confident that’s something that is very much in the interest of all Americans as well.”

Earlier this week the Republican frontrunner said he would “encourage” Russia to attack so-called “delinquent” NATO nations.

Canada and other members of the military alliance have repeatedly fallen short of hitting the agreed-upon target to spend two per cent of GDP on defence under both Liberal and Conservative governments.

The military alliance is founded on the principle of collective defence — that an attack against one member is an attack against all and will yield a joint response.

“Look, if they’re not going to pay, we’re not going to protect, OK?” Trump told a crowd at a rally in Charleston, S.C., Wednesday night.

Trump described speaking to the head of a NATO country.

“Does that mean if we don’t pay the bills that you’re going not to protect us?” said Trump – quoting the unnamed leader.

“I said ‘that’s exactly what that means. I’m going not to going to protect you.’”

He recounted the same anecdote Monday, vowing to “encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO allies who don’t meet the target.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Trump’s remarks endanger members of the Western military alliance.

“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the